More snappily known as the Ehic, this card has replaced the old form E111. It entitles you to reduced-cost (sometimes free) necessary medical treatment from the state in all EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It's free and could save you money and hassle. Click here to apply for your Ehic online, or visit the post office or call 0845 606 2030. Each traveller needs one. It's not a substitute for travel insurance so get that too.

Make sure you check the expiry date; three million cards that were issued in 2005, when the Ehic was launched, expired at the end of March 2009. Click here to renew or apply for your Ehic online: www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad. Don't make the mistake of many travellers: it's not a substitute for travel insurance - see the next frame for cutting the cost of cover.  

Popular probiotics include Yakult and Actimel drinks. But for topping up levels while you're away, pack Seven Seas Multibionta - a multivitamin with added probiotics that don't need refrigeration (£7.50 for 60 tablets, from Boots).

Unscrupulous restaurant owners have been known to fill up mineral water bottles from the tap and resell them, but it's much harder to do this with sparkling water. In countries where the tap water isn't safe, stick to the sparkling and bottled varieties at all times - and that includes for cleaning teeth. Always make sure the seal is intact.

Ice cubes that melt into your drink and the floating lemon slice are other potential sources of contamination that are essential to avoid. Ask for soft drinks to be opened in front of you, and drunk straight from the bottle or can. That way you know it hasn't been watered down or put in a contaminated glass.

Avoid: These include salads, shellfish, ice cream and fruit that you haven't peeled yourself. Stir-fries, cooked vegetables, chips, well-cooked fresh meat and locally caught fish are all relatively safe choices. It's better to opt for hot food cooked to order, rather than buffet-style dishes that may have been kept lukewarm for hours. Medium temperatures allow bugs to thrive - so avoid cold food served too warm and hot food that's served too cold.

Choose restaurants carefully: Bad signs are dirty overalls, staff who smoke or have dirty hands, unsatisfactory customer toilets, flies, cats and dogs roaming inside or out, or overflowing bins piling up outside.